PHILADELPHIA - Baylor football head coach Art Briles was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Football Club Collegiate Coach of the Year Award, the honor's national selection committee announced on Wednesday.

Briles, who is in his sixth season at Baylor, has led the Bears to the first 9-0 record in program history and the best start in conference play, 6-0, since 1980.

Under Briles in 2013, the Bears are ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 and No. 4 in both the USA Today Coaches Poll and the BCS Standings. That AP ranking is Baylor's highest since 1953.

Briles' squad leads the country in scoring (61.2 ppg) and total offense (684.8 ypg), while ranking third in passing (384.4 ypg) and ninth in rushing (300.3 ypg). The Baylor defense is ranked seventh in scoring defense (17.4 ppg) and 11th in total defense (322.6 ypg).

Briles owns a 42-30 record in his time at BU. Baylor was averaging 2.9 wins per year in the 12 years prior to Briles' arrival and had won just 11 Big 12 games in that span. The Bears have now been to three straight bowls, won at least seven games and four Big 12 contests in each of the last three seasons. Briles has helped Baylor win 20 Big 12 games over the last 3+ seasons and the Bears are averaging 8.5 wins in that span.

Briles is one of two coaches from the Big 12 to make the list, joining Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy.

Semifinalist voting for of the Maxwell Football Club Collegiate Coach of the Year Award will begin on Thursday, Nov. 21 and close on Monday, Dec. 2. Finalist voting will take place from Dec. 3 to Dec. 15 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 17.

The Bears will now face No. 11 Oklahoma State on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Stillwater, Okla. That game will be broadcast to a full national audience on ABC.

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